A group of consumers who claimed they suffered an economic loss by purchasing defective Johnson & Johnson medicines had their lawsuit thrown out of court by a federal judge. The consumers argued that the existence and concealment of a host of quality control problems at different J&J plants led them to pay inflated prices due, in part, to the reputation of the health care giant for selling safe and effective medications. In making their case, the consumers argued J&J execs repeatedly ignored a series of so-called red flags that resulted in quality control gaffes at various plants.